shank
Anatomy. the part of the lower limb in humans between the knee and the ankle; leg.
a corresponding or analogous part in certain animals.
the lower limb in humans, including both the leg and the thigh.
a cut of meat from the top part of the front(foreshank ) or back (hind shank ) leg of an animal.
a narrow part of various devices, as a tool or bolt, connecting the end by which the object is held or moved with the end that acts upon another object.
a straight, usually narrow, shaftlike part of various objects connecting two more important or complex parts, as the stem of a pipe.
Slang. shiv (def. 2).
a knob, small projection, or end of a device for attaching to another object, as a small knob on the back of a solid button, or the end of a drill for gripping in a shaft.
the long, straight part of an anchor connecting the crown and the ring.
the straight part of a fishhook away from the bent part or prong.
Music. crook1 (def. 8).
Informal.
the early or main part of a period of time: It was just the shank of the evening when the party began.
the latter part of a period of time: They didn't get started until the shank of the morning.
the narrow part of the sole of a shoe, lying beneath the instep.
Printing. the body of a type, between the shoulder and the foot.
Golf. a shot veering sharply to the right after being hit with the base of a club shaft.
the part of a phonograph stylus or needle on which the diamond or sapphire tip is mounted.
Jewelry. the part of a ring that surrounds the finger; hoop.
Golf. to hit (a golf ball) with the base of the shaft of a club just above the club head, causing the ball to go off sharply to the right.
Slang. to cut or stab (someone) with a shank; shiv.
Slang. to undermine or discredit (someone) in a sneaky manner, as with innuendo, rumor, accusation, or the like.
Chiefly Scot. to travel on foot.: Compare shanks' mare.
Origin of shank
1Other words from shank
- un·shanked, adjective
Words Nearby shank
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use shank in a sentence
This flexible, lightweight, rugged moccasin features a graphene-enhanced rubber outsole and bombproof shank plate for cleat-like traction.
It’s a lamb shank from Marhaba, a new counter at the Tysons food court.
Marhaba’s stellar Middle Eastern cooking deserves a permanent spot at Tysons Corner Center | Tim Carman | October 18, 2021 | Washington PostThe grandest meat, on the other hand, is braised lamb shank.
Twin bistros in Northern Virginia put a personal spin on Indian cooking | Tom Sietsema | March 5, 2021 | Washington PostIf she got caught with a shank, they would up her custody level.
How a ‘Real Housewife’ Survives Prison: ‘I Don’t See [Teresa Giudice] Having a Cakewalk Here’ | Michael Howard | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTSeager writes about being threatened by a patient with a shank carved out of an eyeglass stem.
Inside a Hospital for the Criminally Insane | Caitlin Dickson | September 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
It is one of the only times I can think of when life imitates art to the very bleeding edge of an aluminum shank.
You see, the victim can slip up behind you on any given day and stick a shank in your ribs—or pay someone else to do it.
How Will Chelsea Manning Be Treated in Prison? | Mansfield Frazier | August 22, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTEveryone complains that Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray shank shots but stubbornly stick to the same strategy.
Its only the shank of the evening, officer, rejoined the old man, as he fumbled with the latch key and finally opened the door.
The Fifth String | John Philip SousaThe invalid sat on the shank of a mushroom anchor, and smoked his pipe while he affected to superintend the work.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands | R.M. BallantyneThe Cad bait, with a little hackle round the top of the shank of the hook, kills well.
The Teesdale Angler | R LakelandWho dat er woicin' dat hebbenly pocklermashun outen dar in de shank o' de night?
The Broken Sword | Dennison WorthingtonA stout shank was gripped by the split wood, and strongly bound in its socket with a thong of hide.
The Terms of Surrender | Louis Tracy
British Dictionary definitions for shank
/ (ʃæŋk) /
anatomy the shin
the corresponding part of the leg in vertebrates other than man
a cut of meat from the top part of an animal's shank
the main part of a tool, between the working part and the handle
the part of a bolt between the thread and the head
the cylindrical part of a bit by which it is held in the drill
the ring or stem on the back of some buttons
the stem or long narrow part of a key, anchor, hook, spoon handle, nail, pin, etc
the band of a ring as distinguished from the setting
the part of a shoe connecting the wide part of the sole with the heel
the metal or leather piece used for this
printing the body of a piece of type, between the shoulder and the foot
engineering a ladle used for molten metal
music another word for crook (def. 6)
(intr) (of fruits, roots, etc) to show disease symptoms, esp discoloration
(tr) golf to mishit (the ball) with the foot of the shaft rather than the face of the club
Origin of shank
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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